Page:Antony and Cleopatra (1921) Yale.djvu/82

70

Shall fall you for refusing him at sea,

Being prepar'd for land.

Ant. By sea, by sea.

Eno. Most worthy sir, you therein throw away

The absolute soldiership you have by land;

Distract your army, which doth most consist

Of war-mark'd footmen; leave unexecuted

Your own renowned knowledge; quite forgo

The way which promises assurance; and

Give up yourself merely to chance and hazard

From firm security.

Ant. I'll fight at sea.

Cleo. I have sixty sails, Cæsar none better.

Ant. Our overplus of shipping will we burn;

And with the rest, full-mann'd, from the head of Actium

Beat the approaching Cæsar. But if we fail,

We then can do 't at land.

Thy business?

Mess. The news is true, my lord; he is descried;

Cæsar has taken Toryne.

Ant. Can he be there in person? 'tis impossible;

Strange that his power should be. Canidius,

Our nineteen legions thou shalt hold by land,

And our twelve thousand horse. We'll to our ship:

Away, my Thetis!

How now, worthy soldier!

Sold. O noble emperor! do not fight by sea;

Trust not to rotten planks: do you misdoubt

 39 fall: befall

60 Thetis: the name of a sea nymph

